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During the summer months, there’s to better place to snuggle than under the stars at the Denver Botanic Gardens, a blooming botanical paradise in which to enjoy some of the top musical acts in the country in one of the most serene outdoor landscapes in Colorado. Pack a picnic, bring a bottle of wine and a blanket, and stretch out on the grass, while listening to the likes of the Indigo Girls, Judy Collins, B.B. King, and Bruce Cockburn. The line-up is usually announced in mid-April, and concerts run May-August. Tickets sell out quickly, however, although you may have luck purchasing a last-minute pair at the ticket window on the evening of a show. 1005 York St. 720-865-3500 or http://www.botanicgardens.org
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Guaranteed to rub you in all the right ways, this easygoing, determinedly unpretentious spa, located in a bright-hued Victorian house in the burgeoning Highland neighborhood, believes in doubling the pleasure, which is why the couples’ massage, a sigh-inducing series of pampering strokes and rubs (and warm stones, if you prefer), is so popular with love-struck locals. Lying side-by-side near the amber glowing fireplace, soft music wafting in the background, it’s an exercise in uninterrupted bliss that’s both relaxing and amorous.
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You’re heard the Frank Sinatra lyrics: “Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage.” We can’t help you with popping the question, but if you want to add some spark to your love life – or just rekindle the romance, slow down the pace and take in the historical sites of downtown Denver from the intimate confines of a horse-drawn carriage – we highly suggest this classic carriage ride that meanders along the 16th Street Mall and the city’s surrounding side streets. Various pick-up points along the 16th Street Mall. 303-670-3134
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The lovely two-top, buttressed against the flickering glow of the fireplace, is not just one of most sought after tables in town, but also one of the most coveted spots for an intimate tête-à-tête. Named for the wine of the Northwestern Italian province of Piedmont, it’s a convivial restaurant, strewn with grapes from the vine, wine bottles and farmhouse touches, all of which give it an air of rustic sophistication. Executive chef Brian Laird, whose cooking compliments the expansive wine roster, turns out sharable dishes like the fritto misto per due – fried shrimp, calamari and scallops pooled in harissa mayonnaise.
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Flirting habitués find fun and romance at this Larimer Square French food temple that speaks oh-la-la at every turn. Tucked into a secret back alley, the sunflower-yellow interior, with its warm golden glow of flickering candlelight, whimsical chalkboard menu, scarred hardwood floors and welcoming vibe, is an idyllic date spot. The scarlet canopied, foliage-flush jardin is just as ambient, especially during spring and summer when the showers of flowers are in full bloom. But no matter where you park your tush, chef Matt Anderson’s menu – foie gras, escargot, steak tartare, mussels and frites – is a jubilee.
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From the skyscraping 27th floor of the towering Hyatt Regency Denver, you can pop the cork (or question) while beholding the heart-palpitating panoramas from the Peaks Lounge, a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windowed bar showcasing memorable vistas of the Rocky Mountains and bright-lit city skyline. Furbished with plush oversized sofas and chairs and illuminated by flame of a blazing fireplace, it’s a place that invites lingering, even if the altitude-high drink prices might cost you more than an engagement ring. But, oh those views!
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Denver boasts a smorgasbord of culinary schools, several of which offer classes for couples. The intimate “Date Night” get-togethers at A Cook’s Kitchen, a contemporary cooking school spearheaded by Elizabeth Woessner and television personality Claudine Pepin, a James Beard award winner, flaunt flutes of bubbly and a four-course dinner, while Cook Street School of Fine Cooking is a perfect opportunity to treat your soul mate to a multi-course romantic dinner for two – and then experiment with the recipes in the privacy of your own kitchen.
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It’s easy to get lucky in love at this cosmopolitan boutique hotel renowned for its elegantly appointed rooms and suites bedecked with feather down pillows and comforters, bold color-schemes (think racy reds), deluxe bath amenities and playful furnishings. Indulge in the hotel’s afternoon wine hour, complete with complimentary chair massages, slide into a booth for two at Panzano, the excellent, on-site Northern Italian restaurant, and in the morning, luxuriate in a massage, either in your room or at the Renaissance Aveda Spa and Salon.
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If you're bored with the bar scene, but still fancy a classy place to sip and sup while taking in top entertainment, join the other canoodling couples at this sensually attired, Parisian-styled nightclub, tucked in the basement level of the historic D&F Clocktower in downtown Denver. The sexy showroom, owned by local songstress Lannie Garrett, dazzles with its clusters of chenille-draped tables illuminated by antique chandeliers dangling cowboy boots and clocks. Everyone from piano bar crooners and vocal impressionists to vaudeville comedians and jazzy national acts grace the sprawling stage.